Blackward

In Lindell’s charmingly sincere graphic novel debut, a close-knit quartet of young Black queer friends who call themselves “the Section” struggle to expand their clique. The opening finds each of the four—Lika, Amor, Tony, and Lala—waking in their individual homes, fortifying themselves as they look in the mirror, with a long gaze or pep talks (Lika: “Today’s a good day”; Amor: “Yeah, I’m cute!”). The narrative charts their relentless attempts to grow their crew of “misunderstood, alternative” folks. They first attempt to start a social club at their local community center but are undone by a hostile straight Black activist and his white “ally.” An afternoon they spend trying to network by handing out flyers about the Section at a book fair similarly falls flat. Finally, a sympathetic bookstore owner suggests that the Section launch their own fair. Thus, the zine fest Blackward (a portmanteau of “Black and awkward”) is born. Lindell’s loose, expressionistic drawings burst with energy, humor, and bright colors. His fast-talking, fun-loving protagonists make for good company, and their guileless yearning for connection and community is appealing and poignant. This winning mix of tough and tender will enchant misfits of all stripes. (Sept.)